Public Art

The Runnymede neighbourhood is packed with public art.  Normally you think of public art in terms of the statues that line University Avenue, the Henry Moore sculptures at the AGO, or even the seasonal outdoor art in Yorkville. However, our little neighbourhood has plenty of public art.  They may not be grand or by internationally renowned artists, but they were put out for us to enjoy.

St James the Creator

The most prominent display is at St James's Catholic Church on Runnymede. Over the past few years, the church has installed a range of statues honouring prominent Catholic figures, including St James and the Virgin Mary.  

Garage doors are a great source of garage art.  In the laneway between Runnymede and Beresford, there are two large displays: 

one family generated:

and one by a professional artist

The short laneway between Willard and Windermere (the stretch north of the Runnymede Presbyterian Church) features this garage mural.

One of the most interesting is a local artist who nails her canvasses to telephone poles, like this one at the corner of St Johns and Runnymede by Sandra Franke.  Sandra has posted several of these works of art around Runnymede and south between Annette and Bloor.  

You can find her work at:  Sandra Franke

Another local artist - Elizabeth Jackson Hall has her studio on Annette, just east of Windermere.  You can often see some of her work displayed in the front window.  She was also responsible for the mural painted on the side of the Canadian Manda Publishing company.  A joint effort by the City of Toronto, the Baby Point BIA and the Canadian Manda Group resulted in a parkette with sculpted benches and bike racks.

Elizabeth Jackson Hall Toronto artist

This piece of statuary on Beresford is also a special play toy for the very young

And finally,  not all artwork is fine art.  This household on Jane St has turned a simple privacy fence into a piece of architectural art by combining three staggered fences with a bush.